What makes a sword good at cutting?
The sharper the edge, the stronger or faster the blow, and the more precise the angulation of the impact all make a difference in the effectiveness of a sword cut.
What swords are used in Hema?
Weapon
- Two handed sword. The longsword is the most common weapon in the HEMA field.
- One handed sword. The short sword is operated with one hand and can be used alone or with a shield.
- Rapier, Saber. The rapier is a long, thin sword that appears at the Renaissance.
- Dagger.
- Polearm.
- Axe.
- Stick.
Why are curved swords better for cutting?
Curved sword are generally better at cutting. This is because they have a longer surface area of blade that generally follows the motion of your cut and is therefore in contact with your target longer. This can create a deeper cut. With curved swords you generally try to do what is called a Draw Cut.
What is the physics of cutting?
First of all, Cutting is the phenomenon of applying increasing or constant (high) pressure over a small area of an object where the stress applied (both compression and shearing) overcomes the ultimate tensile strength of the object at that particular area. (Friction between solids also play a major role here).
Are Hema blades sharp?
They usually feature tempered high-carbon steel blades with sharp or sharpenable edges. Like their historical counterparts, blades will break, notch or become damaged if abused or are not maintained properly. For combat use we would recommend Battle Re-enactment or HEMA Sparring swords which are safer and more durable.
Can Hema swords be sharpened?
As such, our sharpening service will put an edge on your sword or dagger that is capable of cleanly slicing through one. An edge this sharp is more than capable of slicing through the plastic bottles and tatami mats that are frequently used for test cutting. Our aim is to put a sharp cutting edge on a blunt blade.
Is HEMA a martial art?
Historical European martial arts (HEMA) are martial arts of European origin, particularly using arts formerly practised, but having since died out or evolved into very different forms. Modern reconstructions of some of these arts arose from the 1890s and have been practiced systematically since the 1990s.
What does HEMA stand for?
blood
Hema- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “blood.” It is used in some medical terms, especially in pathology. Hema- comes from the Greek haîma, meaning “blood.” Hema- is a rare variant of hemo-.
Why are Arab swords curved?
Why eastern cultures preferred curved sword? Curved blades became so popular in Eastern cultures simply because the Middle East, Central Asia and India were famous for their wide expanses of land, which were ideal for cavalry charges..
Is a Ninjato a katana?
When used in film and stage, ninjatō are depicted as being shorter than a katana with a straight blade but they are utilized in a “nearly identical” manner as the katana. The tsuba (hand guard) of the ninjato is often described as being larger than average and square instead of the much more common round tsuba.
Can a knife cut?
The blade of a knife is like a very thin hand. When you try to cut a tomato, a blunt knife crushes a wide band of plant cells underneath it but a sharp knife will cut through a single line of cells, separating the long-chain cellulose molecules in the cell wall. The sharpest knives are those with the thinnest edges.
Which is the best long sword for test cutting?
One thing to watch out for is brands of very cheaply made medieval style longswords advertised as being good for performing test cutting with. One brand that used to have a good reputation in past years is the Hanwei Tinker Pearce signature line, but the quality has dropped greatly as of present.
What can you cut with a Japanese sword?
While this is a test cutting practice borrowed from modern Japanese sword arts it still is a fun activity many people in the HEMA community also enjoy performing. This cutting practice allows you to test the blade’s durability and sharpness and use it in a real-life situation to cut tatami, foam pool noodles, clay, ballistic gelatins or even meat.
How big of a sword do you need for tameshigiri?
A good tameshigiri sword should weigh more than one pound, but not so heavy that it’s unmanageable. This means you need a sword that is well balanced and manufactured. When it comes to Historical European martial arts swordsmanship, there are a lot of sword options available.